That is the message to young writers as we launch this year’s EDP and Briar Chemicals Young Poets of the Year competition.

The theme of the contest is Strange Surprise and entries are invited from school pupils in two age categories, eight to nine-year-olds and 10 to 11-year-olds.

The final stage judge is Tom Blofeld, children’s author and co-creator of the BeWILDerwood adventure park at Hoveton, near Wroxham.

Prizes donated by Briar include £100 for the winner in each age category and £500 for their schools.

The two winners will also each receive a VVIP family pass for BeWILDerwood and BeWILDerbook bundles. Plus, they will have the chance to spend a morning at the EDP.

Four runners-up in each age group will win book bundles.

Briar Chemicals will also donate £500 to Autism Anglia, a charity chosen by Tom Blofeld.

Poems must be entered via schools and schools in the EDP circulation area will soon be sent entry forms. The closing date is July 18 and the best poems will be featured in the Eastern Daily Press.

This year’s competition is a major milestone as we celebrate a decade of showcasing the talents of young poets in local schools.

First stage judges for the competition are the EDP’s Simon Proctor, Prof Anne Osbourn, from the John Innes Centre and the founder of SAW (Science, Art and Writing) which breaks down traditional barriers between the arts and sciences, and Tim Green, site manager, Briar Chemicals in Norwich.

The two winners and the runners-up will be notified in the autumn.

Mr Green said: “I can’t believe that the competition is 10 years old this year – Stephen Fry launched the competition for us back in 2005 and interest in the competition has continued to build ever since.

“We have thoroughly enjoyed reading literally thousands of poems written by pupils from across the region and we’re just as excited for this year’s entries.

“We’d like to thank the EDP for their continued support and look forward to the competition’s continuing success.”